NHRA open to 1/8 mile? (6 Viewers)

[JRW]

So why did the Ford CEO come out and say they were 6000 empty bays in dealerships? People don't want to do it because the pay, on average, sucks for the hours worked, and the the cars are becoming a nightmare to work on.. Sure there are guys making 6 figures, but the majority aren't close. Frankly, if someone wants to go into the trades, electrician or a bunch of other professions would be better.

Esp when warranty labor times are cut 3/4

 

[none]

So why did the Ford CEO come out and say they were 6000 empty bays in dealerships? People don't want to do it because the pay, on average, sucks for the hours worked, and the the cars are becoming a nightmare to work on.. Sure there are guys making 6 figures, but the majority aren't close. Frankly, if someone wants to go into the trades, electrician or a bunch of other professions would be better.

Couple of reasons I think. Many parents think of being an Auto Tech as the greasy guy from years gone by and discourage kids from looking at it.

And yes, it takes effort, but if you want to be good at anything it takes effort.

Tools are expensive. MAC had a deal for years (don't know if they still do) that a student or intern could get as much as a 60% discount when they were in school to get started.

I was in Bob Tasca's office a few years back and his receptionist buzzed and said: "I have a master tech on line three". Bob took the call, talked to the guy for about 20 minutes and when he hung up had hired the guy and agreed to pay the moving expenses to get the guy from Texas to Rhode Island.

It's like any industry, if you have talent and put in effort you will do well. If you just show up and mark time, you will make wages.
How many jobs can you work 40 hours and bill 65 or more? But you gotta hustle.

I know quite a few independent shop owners, none of them are starvin. And they pay the techs well because if they don't, they will go work for somebody else.

Alan

 

[Butch]

I took auto shop, it was a JR SR year program, but you had to take Ind, Arts Freshman and Sophomore with excellent school attendance. SNAP ON had a program and we got our tools the summer before our JR year. And I still have a few of them still. lol

 

[GumbyWVU]

One of the things I find a hoot and really annoying at the same time is
People will buy a ticket, sit in the stands and then sit there and watch the event on their phone. Depending on the event the light from the screen is super annoying.

I find it very bewildering too, esp at concerts, where they'll be pretty big dollars to go and do the same.

 

[GumbyWVU]

Couple of reasons I think. Many parents think of being an Auto Tech as the greasy guy from years gone by and discourage kids from looking at it.

And yes, it takes effort, but if you want to be good at anything it takes effort.

Tools are expensive. MAC had a deal for years (don't know if they still do) that a student or intern could get as much as a 60% discount when they were in school to get started.

I was in Bob Tasca's office a few years back and his receptionist buzzed and said: "I have a master tech on line three". Bob took the call, talked to the guy for about 20 minutes and when he hung up had hired the guy and agreed to pay the moving expenses to get the guy from Texas to Rhode Island.

It's like any industry, if you have talent and put in effort you will do well. If you just show up and mark time, you will make wages.
How many jobs can you work 40 hours and bill 65 or more? But you gotta hustle.

I know quite a few independent shop owners, none of them are starvin. And they pay the techs well because if they don't, they will go work for somebody else.

Alan

Are there still schools like Wyotech (???) available? Can't recall any recent ads for them.

 

[GumbyWVU]

when you consider the cost of tools today and the time it takes to earn good pay auto mechanics are behind the scale on what a master plumber or electrician can make. The tech knowledge needed for todays autos is hard to learn well and seems like every manufacturer wants to do things a little different. When I went from auto to heavy truck the big difference was the size of the parts and not much else no matter the brand.

Another thing to consider, and I think is looming very large, is the fight in courts on-going over "right to repair". I'd encourage everyone to check that out. The car manufacturers are the leaders against folks like us being able to work on the cars ourselves, and the evermore reliance on tech/code is really putting the squeeze on the individual owner and local wrench turner too.

I could be wrong, but I believe this will be the single biggest thing over the next few years that courts will have to decide on, outside the normal political carnival.

 

[none]

Are there still schools like Wyotech (???) available? Can't recall any recent ads for them.

Yes. Wyotech, UTI, Lincoln tech, UNOH just to name a few.

Alan

 

[65 Goatboy]

Are there still schools like Wyotech (???) available? Can't recall any recent ads for them.

Yes. Wyotech, UTI, Lincoln tech, UNOH just to name a few.

Alan

Right where I live is one of the top ranked automotive technology programs in the country, Southern IL University- Carbondale. I got an associate's degree there in another century, they also have a bachelor degree program now too. They also have one of the top aviation technology programs in the country.

 

[Butch]

Ever here of the 3 30's rule in relation with auto mechanics?
Don't know how true it is but I've heard it said.
$30K for training $30K for tools and $30K starting pay.

 

[Mike]

I grew up in farm country. John Deere is now among the worst for right to repair as I understand it. Imagine a scenario where you know what to do to fix the issue, but the tractor software may shut it down unless a JD-authorized technician with a special key or computer code makes a trip to your farm replace the proverbial 50 cent part.

Something an old farmer can do in his sleep on his older tractor now costs hundreds of $ for the technician, not to mention the $0.50 cent part is now $350.00.

Also, this may have been mentioned here before, but aren't automakers now using non-standard size nuts and bolts to where one needs a special tool unavailable to the general public to access certain areas under the hood?

 

[NitroLuver]

Another thing to consider, and I think is looming very large, is the fight in courts on-going over "right to repair". I'd encourage everyone to check that out. The car manufacturers are the leaders against folks like us being able to work on the cars ourselves, and the evermore reliance on tech/code is really putting the squeeze on the individual owner and local wrench turner too.

I could be wrong, but I believe this will be the single biggest thing over the next few years that courts will have to decide on, outside the normal political carnival.

Yeah, the right to repair has been a fight for a while. I have a friend who is ASE and ford tech that had is own shop but is close to retirement. There are some vehicles he won't work on. Mainly because he doesn't have the proprietary code readers and the cost is just too expensive. Not one (reader)fits all from what I understand that will give info on vehicle specific codes. Outside of the standard and universal codes.

Hell, it may have been from here. But somewhere I came across an article where manufactures were using computer/digital hacking laws being used to sue those who got into the ECU's firmware. That law was not meant for vehicles. A simple question in Googles search brought this up.

Yes, legal frameworks governing "computer hacking"—primarily the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA)—apply to working on modern vehicles because cars are increasingly treated as "computers on wheels".

Reddit +1
While original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have used these laws to restrict independent repair and modification, a legal exemption now allows vehicle owners to legally hack their own vehicles for maintenance, diagnosis, and repair.

WIRED +2

Key Legal Considerations

• The DMCA (Anti-Circumvention): Automakers previously used the DMCA to prohibit unlocking software (technological protection measures or TPMs) that controls vehicle functions.
• The Exemption: Following petitions by organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Library of Congress granted an exemption to the DMCA. This allows vehicle owners (and their authorized agents) to circumvent digital locks for the purpose of diagnosis, repair, or lawful modification.
• Limitations of the Exemption:
  • It applies only to motorized land vehicles (cars, trucks, farm equipment).
  • It does not allow hacking of entertainment or telematics systems.
  • It does not protect against violations of other laws, such as the Clean Air Act, if modifications increase emissions or decrease fuel efficiency.
• CFAA (Unauthorized Access): This law prohibits accessing a "protected computer" without authorization. As vehicles become connected, accessing a vehicle's computer system (e.g., via telematics or OBD-II port) to steal data or manipulate functionality could trigger CFAA violations.
• Security Research: "Good-faith" security research on vehicles to identify vulnerabilities is generally permitted, provided it is done in a manner designed to avoid harm and in accordance with an established security program.
  
  
  United States Department of Justice (.gov) +7

Impact on Working on Vehicles

• Independent Repair: The exemption enables independent mechanics and vehicle owners to use diagnostics tools that may circumvent digital locks, which would have been illegal under the strict interpretation of the DMCA.
• Modification: Owners can legally modify the software in their own cars (e.g., ECU tuning).
• Recalls & Cybersecurity: The NHTSA and FBI treat vehicle hacking as a serious safety issue, monitoring for vulnerabilities in connected systems (e.g., remote start, diagnostics) that could be exploited.
  
  
  Crowell & Moring LLP +4

Disclaimer: Regulations are subject to change, and exemptions must be renewed periodically by the US Librarian of Congress, often every three years.

 

[NitroLuver]

I grew up in farm country. John Deere is now among the worst for right to repair as I understand it. Imagine a scenario where you know what to do to fix the issue, but the tractor software may shut it down unless a JD-authorized technician with a special key or computer code makes a trip to your farm replace the proverbial 50 cent part.

Something an old farmer can do in his sleep on his older tractor now costs hundreds of $ for the technician, not to mention the $0.50 cent part is now $350.00.

Also, this may have been mentioned here before, but aren't automakers now using non-standard size nuts and bolts to where one needs a special tool unavailable to the general public to access certain areas under the hood?

Ha, I was gonna mention farmers. They have to be some of the most ingenious mechanics to do some of he repairs I've seen them do on their tractors. I've read where it has taken JD days to get out for a repair. While the whole time the tractor is sitting out in the middle of the field. My guess is the tractors are internet connected and always talking to the "mothership".